Senior All-Ireland title for the magnificent Drogheda brass band
April 1994
THE Drogheda Brass Band travelled to Dublin recently for the National Band Championships and came away as the Senior Champions of Ireland.
The competition, which is organised by the Irish Association of Brass and Military Bands (IABMB), was held in Wesley College in Ballinteer. There were three brass bands in the Senior Brass Section of the competition - the Drogheda Brass Band, the Lourdes Brass Band (Drogheda) and the Steadfast Brass Band (Dublin).
The testpiece for the contest was ‘A Saddleworth Festival Overture’ by Goff Richards, and the Drogheda Brass Band chose ‘Petite Suite De Ballet’ by Eric Ball as their own choice piece.
Twenty-nine members took part, under the baton of Musical Director Michael Maher. The adjudicator of the competition was Mr. Denis Wilby, who was very complimentary towards the three bands who had taken part.
First prize was awarded to the Drogheda Brass Band, who scored a total of 129 out of 150 - 42 marks for their own choice piece and 87 for the testpieco.
Second prize went to Steadfast Brass Band who scored 121 - 38 for their own choice piece and 83 for the testpiece.
In third place was Drogheda’s Lourdes Brass Band who scored 39 for their own choice piece and 80 for their testpiece a total of 119. Their conductor is Harry Kelly.
Musical Director of the Droghuda Brass Band, Michael Maher, said he was delighted with the outcome of the competitions.
‘I was very pleased with the performance on the day and was delighted that we won the competition,’ Mr. Maher told the Drogheda Independent. ‘I hope now that the band will go on form strength to strength,’ he added.
The band was awarded the Sound Shop perpetual trophy for winning the Owen Choice section and also the Yamaha perpetual trophy for winning the section. They were also presented with a replica trophy. on Monday and Tuesday last as part of a joint effort between pupils of the school and pupils of Our Lady’s College, Greenhills.
The plays were ‘The Do-Gooders’, which dealt with pollution and ‘Us and Them’. Also performed was a scene from ‘Juno and the Paycock’.
St. Joseph’s Drama Group took off in the school in September 1993 and this production is a culmination of their work since then.
The cast from St. Joseph’s comprises 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th years and there are 30 members in total.
According to teacher Kevin Magee, the new drama productions can only benefit the pupils involved. ‘It does a lot for the social side of the students,’ said Mr. Magee.